Mantjtactttbe of sheet-iron



J. CHANDLER.

Making Sheet Iron.

Patented Oct. 19. 1.858.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. CHANDLER, OF

ATTICA, OHIO.

MANUFACTURE OF SHEET-IRON.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 21,817, dated October 19, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnPHUs CHANDLER, of Attica, in the county ofSeneca, in the State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Processof Treating Iron, Espe cially Sheet-Iron, During Its Manufacture; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and letters ofreference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in treating iron during themanufacturing process, with certain mineral matter either alone or inaddition to that already used, for the purpose of chemically regulatingor altering the character of the surface scale on theiron and alsofacilitate its manufacture, which mineral matter acts upon the ironduring the processes of heating and rolling the iron into plates,sheets, &c.

In order that those skilled in the art may understand and use myinvention I will proceed to point out the mineral matter used, themanner of using; its effects upon the iron, and also wherein it differsfrom other modes, and its advantages. The kind of mineral matter used,depends on the purpose for which the iron is designed to be used, aswill be further explained.

I provide a tub, trough, or vessel (see drawing) of any suitabledimensions, and material for holding the mineral matter mixed with waterto a pasty consistence, like mortar, and into this mineral paste, whichI term a bath I dip the bars, plates or sheets, or either of them, andthereby get a coating of the paste on the bars, plates, or sheets, whichadheres to them, on their being with drawn from the bath. Or the mineralcoating may be applied with a brush or otherwise. The bars, plates, orsheets after being coated with the paste are then heated, and rolled,which processes of covering the iron with the paste, heating and rollingit or either of them may be repeated as often as desirable. The objectand use of the mineral paste together with its chemical character andeffects, will appear from the following consideration. The hightemperature at which it is necessary to roll iron into plates, sheets,&c., renders the iron highly susceptible to oxidation, and by the actionof the atmosphere, the surface of the iron becomes covered with a scaleof oXid of iron, which is ordinarily a mixture of the black and redoXids of iron. The higher the temperature at,which the iron was worked,the greater is the proportion of red oXid which forms. This red oxidgives to the iron an unsightly appearance and makes the iron of aninferior quality.

Among the methods of treating sheet iron devised by other inventors Iwill mention the following: First, working the iron at a lowtemperature, to avoid the formation of red oxid; this is well known andpracticed. Second, smearing the surface of sheet iron, which has beencleaned of its oxid and made bright, smearing with oily or resinoussubstances, practiced. in making imitation Bussia sheet iron. Third,throwing coal dust on to and between the sheets during the rollingprocess, both for the purpose of preventing the sheets from sticking,and also partially reduce the red oxid of iron to a lower degree ofoxidation, which plan is well known and practiced. Fourth, smearing theplates or sheets with black lead in order as the inventor says in hisclaim, to incorporate solid carbonaceous matter by pressure into thesurface of the iron.

The bath which I use for treating iron that is to be used for stove pipeand similar use, is composed principally of peat, from peat bogs; towhich I add a metallic salt, or oxid, being governed by the followingconsiderations as to the character of the salt, or mineral, added, andalso its quantity: First peat always holds combined with it more or lessof metallic salts or other mineral compounds which renders it partiallyincombustible, among which may be mentioned common salt, and iron ore.This property of burning slowly may be increased by adding more salts orother metallic compounds, and is advantageous in my invention as theiron being coated therewith, is protected from the atmosphere during theheating and rolling processes Further, in heating iron in contact withpeat, the peat imparts a steel like character to the iron. Second,metallic salts or OXlClS in contact withheated iron yield up one or moreof their constituents, which uniting with the oxid of iron alters itscharacter and properties.

Some of the non-metallic constituents of mineral matter when mixed inthe bath, act upon the heated iron or its oxids as follows:

carbons and hydrogen or carbo-hydrogens reduce the red oXid to the blackoxid. Chlorin from common salt or other chlorids mpart a greenish tingeto the oxid and make it more adhesive to the iron. Compounds ofphosphorus give to the iron a blue tinge. Iodin mixed with coal andthrown between the sheets in rolling imparts to the oxid of iron a pinkor purplish tinge. Some of the metallic oxids and their salts from thebath act on the heated iron as follows: The alkalis potash and sodaifused in considerable quantity unite with the scale of oxid of iron andwhen heated to a high temperature harden and vitrefy the scale and makeit flake off of the iron easily and leave the iron bright and clean.Chlorid or carbonate of copper imparts to the flame of the burning peaton the iron a bluish tinge and also gives to the surface of the sheetthe same rich bluish tinge and makes the oxid cling to the iron moretenaciously. Oxid of cobalt used in the bath has a very similar effect.If iron ore be used in the bath it effectually prevents the sheetssticking together during the rolling process. That species of fuelcalled turf being similar to peat may be substituted therefor, alsocoal,

oil or other carbonaceous combustible may be substituted for peat in thebath.

From what has now been said, the nature of the bath for this kind ofiron will be V be used for tinned, galvanized, or coppered ironor ironthat is to be covered with another metal the bath contains oxids orsalts of such metals together with potash and sal ammoniac or otherfluxes.

A bath formed of oxid of zinc, chlorid of zinc, potash and sal ammoniac,each twenty equal parts, and ten parts each of chlorid of tin, and lead,and made into a paste with Water and applied to the iron before, at,andduring the heating and rolling of the iron will deposit an incipientcoating of zinc on the iron so that the iron on being dipped into meltedzinc, tin or copper, will receive an increased thickness of thesemetals. If salts of copper, or tin or cadmium be substituted for thoseof zinc, an incipient coating of these metals will be reduced on theiron. Other proportions for a bath may be used, and other mineralmatter, as peat, iron ore, &c., may be mixed in the bath. Thesesubstances make the bath more economical. The relative proportion of theingredients of these mixtures or salts to be used for a bath may varyvery much; thus, the chlorids or oxids of zinc, tin, &c., alone on hotiron deposit an incipient metallic coating of these metals on the iron,but preference is given to mixtures containing potcarbonaceous matterapplied to the iron, for 7 black sheet iron, all burns off, or isremoved, and the sheet receives a high finish, and is of a very superiorquality, similar to Russia sheet iron.

I do not claim coating iron with black lead, neither do I claim,broadly, the effect of burning carbonaceous matter on sheet iron in itsmanufacture, nor any particular method of. applying such matter.

For black sheet iron, as at present practiced, I first break down thebars into plates, then dip the plates while warm into the bath tub, thebath being a pasty mixture of blue clay. Other clays may be used. Theplates being pasted with the clay are piled two or more together, andagain heated, and it is advisable to heat them to a higher tempera turethan an ordinary plate heat and also to heat them longer. They beingheated are again rolled into sheets. The clay now, nearly all cracksoff, and should all be removed from the sheet. Sometimes the clay clingstenaciously to the sheet. If it does the sheet may be passed throughcorrugated rolls to loosen it. I also sometimes dip the hot sheet inwater to loosen the scale. After the clay scale is all removed from thesheets a number of them are piled together and given a low heat, (belowa red heat preferred) and again rolled and repeated when desirable. Thefinishing heat and rolling may be done under covers when preferred.

For sheet iron that is to be galvanized, &c., I mix white clay inchlorid of zinc for a bath, dip or smear the bars with this, and

heat the usual way, and when heated, before rolling, again smear themwith chlorid of zinc and during the breaking down the chlorid should beagain applied. Any loosely adhering scale should be swept off, orremoved, and the plates dipped into the bath. It is then ready for againheating, and rolling, during which the chlorid may be again applied. Thesheets should be thoroughly annealed and the clay scale removed asalready explained and the sheets are then ready for dipping in the usualway.

I do not wish to be understood that I confine myself to the precisemanner herein explained as the processes may be varied very much. I havealso found that sheet iron rolled by the English plan of sticking isvery much improved by dipping the plates or sheets in a bath ofpulverized iron ore in order to facilitate their being torn apart.

I claim:

Coating or covering bars, plates, or sheets of iron or either of thembefore, at, or during the manufacturing process of heating and rolling,with clay iron ore or other mineral matter or salts, and also with the10 chlorids or other compounds of zinc, tin, &c., or of their mixtureswith other mineral matter for the purpose substantially as set forth.

J OSEPHUS CHANDLER. Witnesses:

THOMAS C. DONN,

HENRY CHANDLER.

